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ARMORED CORE
MASTER OF ARENA
Copyright © 1999 From Software Inc.
Sony PlayStation
Mecha Simulation
Dual Shock Compatible
SLPS 01855~6
¥5,800
Available now in Japan
Where to buy
FAQ
—by Oliver Barder
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The third and probably final game in the ARMORED CORE series, MASTER OF
ARENA (MoA) continues to impress with its in-depth and diverse mecha combat
actions. Set on two discs, it has a lot more meat compared to its
predecessors.
The original ARMORED CORE had over forty missions, lots of secret parts and
the ability to make yourself a "Human Plus" pilot. ARMORED CORE: PROJECT
PHANTASMA had seventeen missions and an arena mode. Despite all these, one
of the biggest gripes against the ARMORED CORE series was that once finished
the games died. With unrealistic AI and boring combat, the enemies either
stood around admiring the scenery or emptied their ammo into buildings.
What's more the weapon structure wasn't very well balanced; most weapons
were useless and the ones that were any good were ridiculously overpowered.
This resulted in very dull game plays soon as the player mastered the
control interface and obtained all the decent weapons.
With design works from MACROSS's Kawamori Shouji and a story by Matsumoto
Eiji, MoA has all the trappings of the originals, such as allowing you to
load up your AC (Armored Core) from the previous two games, and the
ephemeral aspect of new parts. However, MoA succeeded where the other two
games failed. The creators finally managed to polish the ARMORED CORE formula.
The Mission mode, clocking in at a total of 19 missions, has a lot going on.
The story centers on the reappearance of the enigmatic Nine Ball and its
pilot Hustler One (voiced by
Hiyama Nobuyuki, Shiro
Amada's voice in GUNDAM: 08th MS TEAM). The missions themselves are fairly
well wrought; you generally have to do a lot more thinking and the enemy AI
is much more sophisticated. The twist is that the Mission and Arena modes
are now combined. In order to complete the Mission mode you have to fight in
arena matches. Once you completed the required number of arena matches you
can then unlock more of the missions. The simple combination adds a lot to
the overall game play. It makes you put more thoughts into alternating
between different play styles, tactics, and most importantly, weapon
configurations. This prepares you for the other component of MoA, the Ex
Arena mode.
The Ex Arena (Extra Arena) mode pits you against different categories of ACs
in nine different arenas. The first four are all leg based: humanoid,
reverse legged, four legged and caterpillar. It requires you to use each of
the respective legs in each arena, thus forcing you to learn new combat
tactics to suit the different types of legs. The other four arenas are
"open" (no restrictions) arenas against ACs of all
designations. The overall AI for the ACs in these "open" arenas is very high, requiring much skill and
intellectual prowess to defeat them. Just using powerful configurations and
cheesy tactics like "chicken play" will ensure repeated losses and much
infuriation on the player's part. In addition, in order to enter these
arenas, you have to unlock them first, which means going back to the
Mission/Arena mode and look for clues. This further extends the game's
longevity. Lastly, the final arena in the Ex Arena mode is combined with the
Ranker Mk mode to provide never-ending playability.
One of the finest aspects of the ARMORED CORE series is its two-player
capability. Obviously this requires the participation of two human gamers.
Not anymore. The last feature of MoA is the Ranker Mk mode. You can
customize an opponent from its weapon configuration to its AI, thus allowing
you to hone your skills while adding almost infinite hours of playtime. This
is where the game truly shines. Considering the number of AC configurations
available (not to mention AI settings), the number of different opponents is
truly gargantuan.
Probably the only major shortcoming about the game is that it still relies
on clumsy digital controls. The use of analog controls would result in a far
more organic control interface and ultimately more realistic combats. The
Dual Shock function is available though, so you can feel as well as see the
pain that is being inflicted upon you.
Overall this is a very solid and immersing gaming experience. On top of
that, it boasts a very long playable time. However, this reviewer advises
the potential player to invest in the previous two ARMORED CORE games first.
You'll have an easier time learning the controls. And with carry over
bonuses like "Human Plus" attributes, unlimited weight limit, parts, and
money, you will get the most out of the game.
Rating: 9.5/10 |
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